The Blackdown Support Group charity has won a £1,000 Movement for Good award thanks to nominations from the public.

The group was one of 500 winners in insurer Ecclesiastical’s Movement for Good awards, which is giving £1 million to charities this summer.

Charity co-ordinator Elizabeth McNabb said: “During the Covid-19 crisis we have had to suspend our normal services due to restrictions on social contact and have instead organised a neighbourhood assistance service to local residents, offering prescription delivery, shopping, errands or a friendly phone call.

“As lockdown restrictions ease, we are now considering ways in which we can safely move forward in our work supporting vulnerable or isolated members of our communities.

“Our ideas include a low-cost ‘meals on wheels’ service, a ‘care package’ of home-based activities, support with technology enabling people to connect with others more easily, and support to enjoy time in nature, which is so important for mental and physical well-being.

“The Movement for Good award will be a huge help in kick-starting these new initiatives.”

The charity is based at the Blackdown Practice in Hemyock ?and offers voluntary support to anyone in need in the Blackdowns area.

The charity aims to reduce social isolation, facilitate access to services and improve quality of life for people suffering the effects of loneliness, old age or ill health.

It offers low-cost community transport, runs social groups and provides one-to-one befriending and mentoring services.

Members of the public were invited to nominate causes close to their hearts in the Movement for Good awards with 500 gifts of £1,000 available for donation. Some 13,695 charities were nominated by 253,879 members of the public.

For more information on the Blackdown Support Group visit www.blackdownsupportgroup.org.uk or www.facebook.com/

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